Chapter 254 - 160: World Dragon Egg

Cao Xing'an entered the quiet room and slapped a hand down on the Warm Jade Table he was usually so fond of.

"Shushu, not only did those two Celestial Destiny Seekers from Starlight City refuse the invitation, but they also dealt with the people causing trouble at Tao En's place. Are you sure your information is correct?"

Previously, Tao En was the only one who had ever managed to thwart Cao Xing'an.

Ever since Tao En's soul was damaged and he became a cripple, things had gone smoothly for Cao Xing'an for many years.

Tonight, Cao Xing'an was feeling that same sense of frustration once more.

For a moment, Cao Xing'an even began to doubt his own status.

'Even if those two Celestial Destiny Seekers are from Starlight City, they wouldn't go so far as to make an enemy of a genuine Five-finger Creator like me just for a cripple like Tao En, would they?'

'Is my banquet really so unappealing?'

Ju Jiasu had invited them twice in a row, only to be rejected flatly both times.

Ju Jiasu was his niece—a fact the two Celestial Destiny Seekers from Starlight City should have known before they even arrived.

What's more, Ju Jiasu had even announced who she was!

There wasn't much difference between Ju Jiasu extending the invitation and Cao Xing'an doing it himself.

"Uncle, how could I possibly lie about something like this?"

"I made your identity clear, but they still refused to come."

"I told them not to blow things out of proportion, but they wouldn't listen. The troublemakers were taken away by He Meili, a Steward from the Celestial Destiny Society."

"By now, He Meili has probably disposed of them."

Just as fury surged in Cao Xing'an's heart at her words, he heard Ju Jiasu add something else.

"But there was a reason, I suppose. The Order Beast belonging to that S-rank Combat-type Celestial Destiny Seeker from Starlight City looks identical to a human girl."

"Apparently, the troublemakers harassed this Celestial Destiny Seeker's Order Beast."

"Their insistence on dealing with the people causing trouble at Tao En's shop was likely not for Tao En's sake, but for that reason."

Ju Jiasu's words struck Cao Xing'an as absurd.

But Cao Xing'an hadn't first heard the news from Ju Jiasu.

The first person to inform him had been one of his most capable subordinates, whom he had placed within the Jinglong Commerce Association.

After some investigation, he learned that the troublemaker wasn't the lecherous type. In fact, the man had always dated male lovers.

'How could a person like that possibly try to take advantage of a female Order Beast?'

'Don't tell me this female Order Beast looks like a man!?'

Cao Xing'an was certain that these Celestial Destiny Seekers from Starlight City were, in fact, standing up for Tao En.

Cao Xing'an's eyes narrowed. Previously, he had never considered completely eliminating Tao En, content to simply keep the man under his thumb.

But now that Tao En had gotten involved with the Celestial Destiny Seekers from Starlight City, murderous intent surged within Cao Xing'an.

Even for the sake of his own reputation, it was about time Tao En was disposed of.

For some reason, upon learning that Tao En was in contact with the Celestial Destiny Seekers from Starlight City, a sense of unease suddenly stirred in Cao Xing'an's heart.

It was the exact same feeling he'd had when Tao En was promoted to a Five-finger Creator.

Just that afternoon, Ju Jiasu had proposed getting rid of Tao En.

Cao Xing'an had refused, concerned for his reputation.

But now, Cao Xing'an was thinking he should get rid of Tao En as soon as possible.

However, he chose not to voice this thought to Ju Jiasu.

The more people who knew about something like this, the greater the risk of a leak. It was better for Cao Xing'an to arrange it himself, in secret.

Cao Xing'an had many Hidden Guards under his command, all of whom he controlled through special means.

Sending just a single Hidden Guard would be enough to kill Tao En, who couldn't even summon his Guardian Beast.

The Dragon Soaring Assembly would only officially begin tomorrow. Making a move before it started would draw too much attention.

Cao Xing'an planned to wait a day or two after the Dragon Soaring Assembly began, then finish off Tao En and his grandchild late one night.

"Shushu, it's getting late. You still have to receive that Celestial Destiny Seeker from Crystal Peak City tomorrow."

"Just stay here for the night. There's no need to dwell on today's events."

"You need to carefully cultivate the connections I've introduced you to."

"This Celestial Destiny Seeker from Crystal Peak City is about your age, and he isn't necessarily any worse than that... what's his name... Wen Tao from Starlight City."

Hearing Cao Xing'an's words, Ju Jiasu felt a flash of displeasure, but she didn't let it show on her face.

'The male Celestial Destiny Seeker from Crystal Peak City might be around my age,' she thought, 'but he weighs more than two of me and sounds so greasy when he talks.'

'If Wen Tao was an exquisite pastry, then the Celestial Destiny Seeker from Crystal Peak City was like an undercooked piece of fried dough—cloying and sticky.'

Ju Jiasu had never liked interacting with people whose looks were below average, let alone maintaining a good relationship with them.

For someone as obsessed with appearances as she was, speaking face-to-face with an ugly person was torture.

Ju Jiasu outwardly went along with Cao Xing'an's words, already planning to find an excuse the next morning to have Jiao Donghai receive the Celestial Destiny Seeker from Crystal Peak City instead.

'The Celestial Destiny Seeker from Crystal Peak City only has an S-rank potential rating. What kind of future could an S-rank Celestial Destiny Seeker possibly have?'

After leaving Tao En's shop, Zhong Yi went to the night market to experience the food culture of Longya City.

Longya City's cuisine was somewhat monotonous; they liked to add dragon-related elements to all sorts of dishes.

Not only did they add ingredients like Dragon Blood, Earth Dragon Meat, and Dragon Scale Powder to their recipes, but even their ox-tongue pastries were pressed into the shape of a dragon before being sold.